The director of the largest broadband program in U.S. history issued a stark warning in his farewell email on March 16, cautioning that millions of rural Americans could be left with slower internet speeds if regulatory changes favor Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet.
According to a Bluesky post by ProPublica’s Craig Silverman, the email raised concerns about proposed modifications to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The most significant change would shift priority from fiber-optic internet—widely considered the gold standard—to satellite-based solutions.
> “This was one opportunity to do right by rural America, and it seems to be slipping away,” said the outgoing BEAD director Evan Feinman in an interview with CNET. “There’s still time to prevent this mistake, but not much.”
The Future of BEAD Funding
BEAD, a $42.5 billion initiative established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, was designed to expand broadband access across the U.S. Feinman’s contract was not renewed by the Trump administration, leading to his departure.
A shift in policy could significantly benefit Starlink, increasing its potential federal funding from $4.1 billion to as much as $20 billion. While Amazon’s Project Kuiper is also eligible, it has only two prototype satellites in orbit compared to Starlink’s 7,000+ operational satellites. Other satellite providers, such as Hughesnet and Viasat, do not qualify due to high latency issues.
Previously, the Biden administration’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) prioritized fiber-optic expansion, which delivers faster and more reliable connections. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is now advocating for a more "technology-neutral" approach, potentially giving Starlink an edge in securing BEAD funding.
With billions at stake and rural communities’ digital future on the line, the debate over prioritizing fiber vs. satellite broadband is set to intensify in t
he coming months.
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